Photoprinting apparatus



Feb. 27, 1962 E. K. SMITH, JR., EI'AL 3,022,716

PHOTOPRINTING APPARATUS 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1. 1957 NmmINVENTORS EDWIN K. SMITH Jr.

JOHN Dv ALEXANDER RALPH MARKS AM M4 Jy ATTORN YS Feb. 27, 1962 s JR" T3,022,716

PHOTOPRINTING APPARATUS ll Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1, 1957 INVENTORSEDWIN K. SMITH Jr. JOHN D. ALEXANDER BY RALPH MARKS A6400! Wfld/ATTORNEYS E. K. SMITH, JR., ETAL 3,022,716

Feb. 27, 1962 PHOTOPRINTING APPARATUS 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 1,1957 INVENTORS EDWIN K. SMITH Jr.

JOHN D. ALEXANDER RALPH MARKS 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 PHOTOPRINTING APPARATUSE. K. SMITH, JR., ETAL Feb. 27, 1962 Filed May 1, 1957 EDWIN K.SM|TH Jr.

JOHN D. ALEXANDER RALPH MARKS v Feb. 27, 1962 E. K. SMITH, JR., ETAL3,022,716

' PHOTOPRINTING APPARATUS Ffiled May 1, 1957 ll'Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORSEDWIN K. SMITH Jr. JOHN D. ALEXANDER RALPH MARKS ATTOR EYS Feb- 27,1 E.K. SMITH, JR, ETAL 3,02

PHOTOPRINTING APPARATUS Fi led May 1, 1957' 11 Sheets-Sheet e Fig- 4:?

ENTORS EDWIN K.SMITH Jr. 264 BY JOHN D ALEXANDER RALPH MARKS ATTORzEYSFeb. 27, 1962 Filed May 1 1957 E. K. SMITH, JR., ETAL PHOTOPRINTINGAPPARATUS ll Sheets-Sheet 7 ATToRzEYs K 28 o o O 5 o o o O 0 Feb. 27,1962 E. K. SMITH, JR., ETAL 3,022,716

PHOTOPRINTING'APPARATUS Filed May 1, 1957 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 N 03 N 2 q ag 8 g m N 5 INVENTORS w 8 O EDWIN K. SMITH Jr N JOHN D.ALEXANDER g Q BYRALPH MARKS g 9 ATTORBZYS Fe 27, 1 E. K. SMITH, JR., EI'AL 3,022,716

PHOTOPRINTING APPARATUS Filed May 1, 1957 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTORSEDWIN K. SMITH Jr. JOHN D.ALEXANDER RALPH MARKS Iq ATTOR EYS Feb. 27,1962 E. K. SMITH, JR., EIAL 3,022,716

PHOTOPRINTING APPARATUS Filed May 1, 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 EDWIN K.SMITH Jr. JOHN D. ALEXANDER. RALPH MARKS ATTORNEYS United StatesPatentOfiice 3,022,716 Patented renew, 19 2 3,022,716 PHOTOPRHNTINGAPPARATUS Edwin K. Smith, Jr'., Tarrytown, N.Y., John D. Alexunder,Hawthorne, N.J., and Ralph Marks, New York, N.Y., assignors, by mesneassignments, to Minnesota Mining andManui'acturing Company, St. Paul,Minn, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 1, 1957, Ser. No. 656,316 27Ciaims. (Cl. 95-77.5)

of a novel method of feeding master and duplicate cards" bearing filmsections located remote from at least one end of each of the respectivecards past a photoprinter with the film sections of the respective cardssuperimposed and in contact, and of separating the master and duplicatecards after such exposure at the printer, whereby the master cards maybe conveniently stacked and the duplicate cards may be developed andstacked.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel apparatus forfeeding original or master film sections in spaced relationship, forfeeding unexposed film sections in spaced relationship, forsuperimposing each unexposed film section in accurate registry with amaster film section, and for feeding the sections together in suchrelationship past a photoprinter.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision, in apparatusof the character indicated, of novel mechanism for feeding superimposedmaster and duplicate cards bearing film sections remote from at leastone endof the card in accurate registry past a photoprinter with thefilm sections of the respective cards held firmly in contact, and forseparating the cards after exposure at the printer.

Still another object is to provide, in apparatus of the characterindicated, novel card conveying and registering mechanism by means ofwhich the cards are superimposed on a conveyor and are continuouslycarried by the same conveyor past the photoprinter.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of novelcard-handling mechanism adapted for use with apparatus of the indicatedtype and with cards in which the film sections are located remote fromat least one end of the cards, the mechanism being of such characterthat the film sections of the superimposed master and duplicate cardsare pressed into contact in their passage past the printer and the endsof the superimposed cards remote from the film sections are held spacedso as to facilitate separation of the cards after they pass the printer.

Still another object is to provide, in apparatus of the. indicatedcharacter, a novel combination of a card supporting and locatingconveyor with a photoprinter havi'ngan outer card-supporting surfacemovable in synchro nism wtih the conveyor and also having a successionof film section gripping and pressing platens which operate insynchronism with the conveyor.

Yet another object is the provision of a novel photoprinter of simplerugged construction which insures the holding of the film sections ofsuperimposed master and duplicate. cards in accurate registry.

Another object resides in the provision, in apparatus of'the characterindicated, of novel mechanism for con- 2 trolling the apparatus,including means for stopping the conveyor if either a master or aduplicate card is not d livered correctly to the proper pocket on theconveyor, and mechanism for stopping the exposure of the card at theprinter under such circumstances.

Still another object is to provide, in one embodiment of the inventionuseful with thermally developed film sections, of apparatus as set forthin the preceding paragraph in combination with a heater-type developer,in a preferred embodiment, such apparatus including means for shuttingoff the developer when either a master or a duplicate card is not fedproperly to its pocket on the conveyor.

The above and further objects and novel features of the presentinvention will more fully appear from the following detailed descriptionwhen the same is read in connection wtih the accompanying drawings. Itis to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for thepurpose of illustration only and are not intended as a" definition ofthe limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout the several views,

FIG. 1 is a-view in side elevation of one form of photoprintingapparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, certainof the parts located interiorly of the housing being shown in phantomlines, certain portions of the housing of the apparatus being brokenaway;

FIG. 2a is a view in plan of the card-entering end of the apparatus, thetop of the housing being removed along a horizontal sectioning plane;

FIG. 2b is a view in plan similar to FIG. 2a but showing the remainderof the apparatus, the upper portion of the housing likewise beingremoved by a horizontal sectioni'ng plane;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical longitud-inal sectionthrough the card-entering end of the apparatus, the section being takenalong the line 33 of FIG. 20, certain of the parts being shown in sideelevation;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section through aportion of the apparatus at the printer or exposing unit, the sectionbeing taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2b, certain of the parts beingshown in side elevation;

FIG. 4a is an enlarged fragmentary and somewhat schematic view invertical section through the drum of the exposing unit, the view showingthe selectively operated shutter of the unit in open position, theshutter-operating solenoid being shown in side elevation;

FIG. 4b is a view similar to FIG. 4a but with the shutter at theexposing unit in closed position;

FIG. 5 is a view in transverse axial section through the drum of theexposing unit, the section being taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2b,certain of the parts being shown in side elevation;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal sectionthrough the apparatus at the exit end of the apparatus where the cardsare separated and the duplicate cards are developed, the section beingtaken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2b;

FIG. 7 is a view in end elevation of the apparatus taken from thecard-entering end, thereof, the housing about such apparatus beingbroken away along a vertical sectioning plane indicated by the line 77of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical axial section throughthe top of the drum of the exposing unit, the section being takengenerally along the same sectioning plane as that of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a wiring diagram of the control system for the apparatus,certain elements such as motors, switches, etc. being shownschematically;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view in the nature of a flowsheet indicating thesuccessive steps performed by the apparatus; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the portion of theapparatus at the card-separating zone thereof,

such view showing the manner in which the master and duplicate cards areheld by the edge guides therefor, and also the manner in which thecard-separating plow or shoe cooperates with the thus held cards.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown by way of example one formof apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. bemore readily understood after consideration of FIGS. 1 and 10, includesmechanism for feeding a series of master or original film sections,shown as inserts in a series of similar cards, onto a conveyor, feedinga succession of similar cards onto the conveyor so that they besuperimposed one on each master card, and feeding the thus superimposedcards past a photoprinter. -After passing such printer the master cardsare separated from the duplicate cards, the film sections of theduplicate cards are developed, and both master and duplicate cards arecollected in separate stacks. tured cards of the record type commonlyemployed in connection with known and existing record card tabulatingand sorting systems and machines, the film sections being frames ofmicrofilm mounted in the apertures of the cards. It will be understood,however, that the present invention is not limited to the printing anddeveloping of film sections mounted in cards of the statistical ortabulating machine type, since other forms of record or catalog cards,as well as ordinary cards, may be used for this purpose. Additionally,apparatus in accordance with the present invention may be used toadvantage in the print ing and developing of various other types of filmsections, including film sections which are not mounted in cards orsimilar supporting structures.

For purposes of illustration only, there are shown in the drawingsmaster and duplicate cards, designated and 14, respectively, which areof the statistical or tabulating machine type. Such cards are shown ashaving rectangular apertures 11 and 15, respectively. A section 12 ofdeveloped micro-film, hereinafter termed master or original filmsection, is mounted in the window of master card 10. A film section issimilarly mounted in window 15 of duplicate card 14, such film sectionbeing designated 16 at the start of the operations schematicallydepicted in FIG. 10, when it is then in a sensitized but unprinted andundeveloped state. At the end of the operations performed by themachine, after film section 16 has been printed and developed, it isdesignated 16.

Master cards 10 and duplicate cards 14 are identical, as to the size andplacement of the film-section bearing apertures therein, the aperturesbeing located adjacent one end of the card. It is obvious that toproperly duplicate film section 12 upon section 16, the master andduplicate cards must be superimposed in accurate registry and must bemaintained firmly in contact with each other without motion relative toeach other during their travel past the exposing or exposure unit of theapparatus. A previous apparatus for the continuous duplication of aplurality of film sections involves the superimposition of the masterand duplicate sections on one conveyor, subsequent to which thesuperimposed film sections are transferred to a second conveyor to carrythem past the exposure unit. In another previous apparatus the masterand duplicate film sections are not superimposed until they reach theexposure unit. Both such prior apparatuses were thus prone to operatingdifliculties because of the lack of assurance of accurate registry ofthe master and duplicate film sections. In accordance with the presentinvention the master and duplicate film sections are superimposed in adefinite-position in a pocket on a conveyor well in advance of theexposure unit, so that the film sections may be accurately guided intoand will be maintained in registry. The thus superimposed film sectionsare carried Such apparatus, as will The cards shown are aper by the sameconveyor past the exposure unit, so that there is no possibility ofshifting of one of such sections relative to the other during printingoperation.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS AND METHOD The method of theinvention, and the general characteristics of the apparatus of theinvention will be generally understood by consideration of FIGS. 1, 4,and 10. A series of master cards bearing film sections 12 are depositedin spaced relationship upon a conveyor, generally designated 17 (FIG.1), by a master card feeder 19. A series of duplicate cards 14 eachhaving a sensitized film frame 16 are fedin such spaced relationship bya duplicate card feeder 20 that one card 14 is superimposed upon themaster card 10 in each of the pockets on conveyor 17. Superimposed cards10 and 14 are carried forward by fingers or dogs on the conveyor whichengage the rear edges of the cards, so that the cards are accuratelyaligned transversely to their direction of travel. During such travel,and also during their continued travel past the exposure unit 22, theedges of both cards are engaged by guiding means which insure that theirside edges lie in alignment. The conveyor 17 carries the cards past exposure unit 22, the outer surface of which travels in synchronism withthe conveyor. -See FIG. 4. Unit 22 carries'on the periphery thereof, inposition to cooperate with film sections 12 and 16, a plurality ofprinting stations having selectively operated platens which operate togrip and flatten the film sections against each other and to press themupon a light-transmitting window at each such printing station.

Following the printing operation, which occurs while i the film sectionsare travelling past the exposure unit, the

conveyor 17 carries the cards past a master card hopper in which themaster cards are stacked, and carries the exposed duplicate cardsthrough a developing zone and thereafter to a duplicate card stacker.

The embodiment of the apparatus shown includes control and safetyelements which stop the travel of the conveyor upon the failure ofeither the master card feed 19 or the duplicate card feeder 20 to feed acard into a pocket on the conveyor. The apparatus also preferablyincludes means whereby the conveyor is stopped when either of the cardstackers 24 or 26 becomes filled. The exposure unit incorporates aselectively operated shutter whereby upon stopping of the conveyor 17the light source may be shut off from the film sections which lie uponthe exposure unit, thereby preventing damage to either the master orduplicate film sections. The apparatus shown is adapted for use withthermally developed film sections. Consequently, the film developergenerally designated 25 is in the form of heaters. Such heaters subjectthe exposed duplicate film sections to an elevated temperature which isinsufficient to damage such sections when they pass the heaters atnormal speed, but which would injure the film sections exposed to themif the conveyor should stop. The apparatus shown therefore preferablyincludes further safety means operative upon stoppage of the conveyor toshut off the heaters of the developing unit thereby to prevent damage tothe duplicate film sections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS Turning now to a detaileddescription of the disclosed apparatus in accordance with the invention,such apparatus has a supporting structure generally in the form of adouble-decked table having a plurality of upright frame members 29connected by upper and lower longitudinally and transversely extendingframe members, such frame supporting an upper horizontal platformgenerally designated 31 and a lower horizontal platform generallydesignated 30.

Two vertical parallel laterally spaced plate-like members 32 and 34having outwardly extending spaced lower '5 flanges or feet 35 aresecured to the upper platform 31 by having such flanges bolted toplatform 31. Plates 32 and 34 provide support for a plurality oftransverse shafts which mount the main and subsidiary conveyors, .aportion of the driving means therefor, as well as card feeders 19 and29, exposure unit 22, etc. The upper portion of the apparatus isenclosed in a sheet metal housing 275.

The card conveyor The card conveyor, generally designated 17, is made upof two similar parallel endless chains 36, which are spaced apart adistance somewhat exceeding the length of the cards 10 and 14. Chains 36are entrained over sprockets 37 secured to the rotatable drum 39 ofexposure unit 22, the chains as will be seen hereinafter, being drivenby such sprockets. The upper horizontal runs of chains 36, and the cards10 and 14 carried thereby, travel in a direction from the entering endof the apparatus, at the left ofFIG. l, to the exit end thereof which isat the right in such figure. At the entering end of the conveyor, chains36 run over similar sprockets 46 which are rotatably mounted upon ashaft 48 which extends between and is non-rotatably mounted in members32 and 34. Proceeding now in a direction from left to right in FIG. 1,chains 36run sequentially partially around sprockets 40 mounted on crossshaft 38, the aforesaid sprockets 37 on drum 39 of the exposure unit,leave the latter sprockets by running downwardly and beneath sprockets41 mounted on shaft 43, and travel in a further horizontal run to thesprockets 42 mounted on shaft 53 at the exit end of the conveyor.

After leaving sprockets 42 the chains 36'travel generally downwardlyover chain-tightening sprockets 44, thence over chain supportingsprockets 45, and back'to sprockets 46 at the entering end of theapparatus. Chaintightening sprockets 44 are mounted upon a horizontalshaft 47 which is journalled in two similarly oppositely disposedbracket members 49. Members 49 are adjustably secured for movementgenerally parallel to the runs of chains 36 between sprockets 42 and 44.Each of members 49 is secured toits respective side plate member 32 and34 by bolts 50 which extend through longitu dinally disposed slots inbrackets 49.

Chains 36 of conveyor 17 are driven in the direction indicated by thearrows in FIG. 1 by a motor 51 supported on lower platform 30 of theframe of the apparatus. Motor 51 drives a speed reducing gear unit 52having a sprocket 56 on its output shaft. A chain 54 is entrained oversprocket 56 and over sprocket 57 on a countershaft 55 which islournalled in hearings on members 32 and 34, as shown. As shown mostclearly in FIG. 2a, a sprocket 59 is secured to the outer end ofcountershaft 55, and as shown in PKG. 2b a sprocket 61 is secured to thesame end of a shaft 62 connected to the drum 39 of the exposure unit 22.A driving chain 60 is entrained over sprockets 59 and 61, such chainbeing tightened as required by a chain-tightener sprocket 65 adjust-ablymounted on plate member 34 by a bracket 64.

Each of conveyor chains 36 has a plurality of fingers 66 attached tospaced lin-ks thereof, the fingers on opposite chains being laterallyaligned to form a plurality of similar card-receiving pockets whichsomewhat exceed the width of the cards to be received Within suchpockets. As is apparent in FIGS. 5, 7, and 8, the fingers 66 aregenerally in the form of brackets of inverted U-shape. The outervertical portion of each finger is secured to the inner member of suchspaced links of each chain, so that the fingers extend oppositely inwardtoward each other. The other, inner vertically extending portion 67 ofeach finger 66 is provided with a resilient rubber or rubber-likesleeve, whereby to protect the rear edges of the cards which they abutagainst damage. As will be apparent in FIGS. 5, 7, and 8, the horizontalportions of fingers 66 extend'above and acrossthe card edgeguiding trackmembersl165, 165', etc., at one side of the appara his and 166, 166',etc., on the other side of the apparatus, and, at the exposure unit 22,above and across the card edge guiding flange 196 thereof.

The card feeders Master cards 10 are fed one at a time and in the properhorizontally spaced relationship to be deposited in successive pocketson chains 36 of conveyor 17 as the conveyor travels past the zone ofdischarge of the master cards. Duplicate cards 14 having the aperturestherein disposed similarly to those of the master cards (at the right inFIG. 7 and adjacent the reader in FIG. 3) are also sequentially fed oneat a time and in the proper spaced relations-hip so that one duplicatecard is deposited upon a previously deposited master card in each pocketon the conveyor. The thus superimposed cards are carried forward byportions 67 of fingers 66 against frictional restraint imposed upon themboth by a-resilient pressure member and by the card-engaging edgeguides, to be described. The cards are accurately aligned transverselyof their direction of travel by fingers 66 and endwise by the edgeguides. In FIG. 3, the finger which is instantaneously in position firstto engage both cards is there designated 66.

The master and duplicate cards are fed by card feeders, designated 19and 20, respectively, which may be of the type shown in the patent toRice et al., No. 2,402,774, to which reference is made for specificdetails of their construction. Since feeders 19 and 20 are of the sameconstruction, parts in feeder 20 which are the same as those in feeder19 are designated by the same reference characters as in the formerfeederbut with an added prime. Referring now specifically to feeder 19,the body of such feeder is supported upon horizontally and inwardlyextending ledges 69 on side members 32 and 34. The feeder includes avertical hopper made up of confronting channel members 71 of such innerdimensions as to receive freely but accurately a stack of original cards10 disposed with their long dimensions disposed transversely of thelongitudinal extent of the apparatus.

The bottom of the hopper made up of members 71 is formed by ahorizontally reciprocable feed table 72 having oppositely extending arms74 (FIGS. 2a and 7) received within horizontal guide ways on the machineframe. Feed table 72 has two spaced forwardly extending card-supportingfingers 75 on its forward edge, and has a rearwardly extending card traysupport 76. The feeder is of such construction that feed table 72reciprocates horizontally, picking up and forwarding the lowermost cardin the stack in its forward movement while continuing to support thestack on the tray 76.

Feed table 72 of feeder 19 is reciprocated by means of a cam secured toa driven cam shaft 86 (FIGS. 3 and 7) such cam cooperating with a camfollower 87 on a bent lever 81 pivoted on a cross shaft 84 journalled inbearings on plates 32 and 34. The other end of lever 31 is connected tothe feedtable 72 by means of a link 79 which is pivotally connected tothe upper end of lever 81 by pin 82, the other end of the link beingreceived between cars 77, which depend from the bottom of table 72, andbeing pivoted to the ears by a pin 80. The cam follower 87 on lever 31is maintained in contact with cam 85 by means of a coil tension spring95 which extends between a fixed cross rod 96 and a pin 97 on lever 81,as shown. It will be seen that each revolution of shaft 86 causes table72 to move through one cycle and to deliver one master card from thestack by reason of the engagement of a picker blade 78 secured to therear of the table 72 with the rear edge of the lowermost card in thestack.

Countershaft 86 which drives the card feeder 19 is driven in the propertimed relationship with conveyor chains 36 by means of a sprocket 89afiixed to shaft 55, a sprocket 91 affixed to shaft 86, and a chainentrained over both such sprockets. Chain 90 is kept in the propervtightened condition by means of a tensioning sprocket 92 mounted on theend of an arm 94 which in turn is mounted for angular adjustment on thecross rod 84.

The duplicate card feeder 20 is located in alignment with but somewhatabove and forwardly of master card. feeder 19. Feeder 20 is supportedupon two horizontal ledges 99 projecting inwardly from plates 32 and 34.Feeder 20, as above explained, may be identical with feeder 19. Furtherto illustrate the construction of both feeders, the forward end offeeder 20 is vertically sectioned in FIG. 3. As there shown the feederhas a lower forwardly disposed throat block 100' over which thecardbeing delivered moves. The feeder further has a vertically disposedthroat knife 1' vertically adjustably mounted upon guide block 102. Whensuitably adjusted, throat knife 101' insures the delivery of but onecard at a time from the feeder.

The feeder table 72' of card feeder is reciprocated horizontally insynchronism and in phase with recipro cation of table 72 of feeder 19.Table 72 of feeder 20 is driven by a curved lever 104 which has a shapegenerally similar to lever 81; lever 104 is pivotally mounted at itslower end on a cross shaft 105. Levers- 81 and 104 are oscillated insynchronism by the following mechanism: A cam 88, keyed to shaft 86,cooperates with a roller 93 on the upper end of a lever 33 which isjournalled at its lower end on shaft 84. See FIG. 7. A link 106 connectsthe upper end of lever 33 to the midpoint of lever 104. A second spring95, likewise afiixed at its forward end to cross rod 96, is connected atits rear end to lever 33 to maintain its roller 93 in contact with cam88.

The card forwarding mechanism Master cards fed by feeder 19 are grippedby a driven. pinch roll unit 109 which forwards them in spacedrelationship to be deposited singly in successive pockets at theentering end of conveyor 17. Duplicate cards fed from feeder 20 aredelivered to a driven pinch unit 110, which is driven at a somewhatslower speed than unit 109, and thence onto a short downwardly inclineddriven conveyor belt 132', so that a duplicate card 14 is delivered atthe proper time on top of a master card and immediately in front of apair of fingers on the conveyor 17.

The construction of pinch roll units 109 and 110 and of their associatedconveyor belts will be understood upon consideration of FIG. 3. Unit 109has a first driven bottom roll 111, which may be in the form of a shaft115 having a series of spaced rubber sheaths or collars spacedtherealong. Shaft 115 is driven from countershaft 86 in a manner to beexplained. An idle pinion 112 meshes with a gear 116 on shaft 115 andmeshes with a similar pinion 119 on a shaft 117. Shaft 117 supports aplurality of small axially spaced pulleys 114, which serve to drive andsupport the entering ends of two spaced longitudinally extending fiatconveyor belts Pinch roll unit 110 and its associated conveyor belts areof generally the same construction as unit 109 and belts 132, but arepositioned above and forwardly of unit 109 and belts 132. The parts ofunit 110 and its associated conveyor belts which are similar to those ofunit 109 and belts 132 are designated by the same reference charactersbut with an added prime. Units 109 and 110 are driven in timedrelationship by means to be described.

As will be apparent in FIG. 7, there is a first relatively larger V-beltpulley 120 on the left-hand end of shaft 115 of pinch roll unit 111 anda somewhat smaller pulley 124 on the same end of shaft 115 of pinch rollunit 109. A V-belt 121 runs over pulleys 120 and 124 and thence overpulley 122 on the end of driven countershaft 86, whereby the pinch rollunits are driven by shaft 86. Belt 121 is maintained under the propertension by an 8 adjustable idle pulley 125 which is pressed against thebelt by an adjustable bracket 12 Positioned vertically above and inalignment with driven rollers 111 and 111' are spring-pressed idlerrollers 127 and 127', respectively. As will be apparent in FIGS. Zaand3, unit 110 includes a shaft 129' mounting rollers 127, shaft-129 beingcarried on the rear ends of similar parallel arms 130'. The forward endsof arms 131? are pivotally mounted upon frame members 32 and 34 by stubshafts131'. The rear ends of the arms 130', and the shaft 129' carriedthereby, are resiliently urged downwardly by springs 12% the upper endsof which are engaged by vertically adjustable abutment studs 138 screwedinto brackets 143', thereby to vary the pressure with which rolls 111'and 127 engage cards 14. The structure of the corresponding portion ofpinch roll unit 109 is the same, and need not be further described.

The forward ends of conveyor belts 132 are carried on front pulleys 134mounted upon a shaft 135 which is adjustable longitudinally of theapparatus by belt tightening bracket means 133 supporting the hearingson opposite ends of shaft 135. The upper runs of belts 132 are disposedhorizontally in a plane to receive cards 10 as they issue from feedrolls 111, 127. The upper run of each of belts 132 is supported by aflat plate member 145 over which the belt runs. Each plate member 145 issupported on upstanding side bracket members 14% secured to cross shaft48 as shown in FIG. 3.

Cards 10 are held firmly pressed against belts 132 by sets ofspring-pressed rollers overlying the belts 132. A first set of rollers136, overlying the entering ends of the belts 132, are mounted on therear ends of arms 139, the forward ends of such arms being pivotallysecured to a cross rod 141. A second set of rollers 137 are secured tothe forward ends of arms 140, the rear ends of such arms likewise beingpivotally secured to cross rod 141. Coil torsion springs 142 act betweenarms 139 and 140 to urge the rollers carried thereby toward belts 132. Athird set of biased rollers 154 overlie the exit end of belts 132.Rollers 154 are carried on the forward ends of arms 155, the rear endsof such arms being pivotally mounted on shaft 156.

Immediately after the forward end of a card 10 emerges from under rolls136 the side edges of the cards are received within the entering ends163 of guide members 161 (FEGS. 2a and 3). Such guide members are in theform of elognated horizontal channels fixed with respect to the frame ofthe apparatus and having confronting grooves which accurately receivethe edges of the cards 10 to hold them from any marked vertical orendwise motion as they are moved forwardly through the apparatus. Guidemembers 161 are supported by the frame of the apparatus by bracketmember 162 and spacer block 164 (FIG. 3).

After being delivered from hopper 71 by feed table 72 a card 10 is firstcaused to travel forwardly by pinch rolls 111, 127, then by such rollsand belts 132 and rollers 136, and finally, after leaving rolls 136 bybelts 132 and spring biased rollers 137. In such latter portion of theinitial travel of the cards a set of two 0pposed fingers 66 on conveyor17 will have presented themselves near the top of sprockets 46 so thatsuch fingers then engage the rear edge of the card and take over in themain the task of forwarding the cards.

The belts 132' associated with pinch rolls 111 are generally similar tothe above described belts 132. The upper runs of belts 132', however,incline downwardly in a forward direction from the horizontal plane ofthe nip of rolls 111', 129 toward the station, at the right in FIG. 3,where a duplicate card is first superimposed upon a master card in apocket on the conveyor 17. The upper runs of belts 132 are supported bya flat plate 149 which is supported by opposed bracket members 147secured to cross rod 146. Overlying the upper runs of belts 132' arefour sets of spring-biased rollers, the

entering rollers 131, the first intermediate rollers 137', and the exitrollers 154' being similar to the correspondingly designated rollersassociated with belts 132, and being similarly mounted and spring-biasedtoward belt 132'. To insure accurate feeding of duplicate cards 14,there is employed a second intermediate set of springbiased pressurerollers 151 mounted upon arms 152 on cross rod 156'.

Upon leaving hopper 20 each duplicate card 14 is first fed forward bypinch rolls 111', 127', and shortly there after by belts 132' andpressure rollers 13d. Positioned above the entrance end of belts 132' isa guide shoe 15%: having an upwardly bent rear or entering end to causethe cards to be progressively deflected downwardly into contact with theupper. runs'of belts 132. Belts 132' together with their associatedpressure rollers continue the feeding of cards 14 downwardly to the zoneat which the cards 14 are superimposed upon cards 10. At such zone thereare provided two deflecting guides, or shoes 157, adjacent the edgeguides at the respective sides of the apparatus. The rear ends of shoes157 are inclined generally in the direction of, but lie somewhat above,the upper runs of belts 132, and the forward ends of such shoes aregenerally horizontal and are so positioned as resiliently to urge thecards 14 downwardly. Shoes 157 are mounted on brackets 159 adiustablysecured to a cross rod 160. To insure thatv cards 14 are accuratelypositioned endwise, there are provided end guide plate members 158 whichaccurately receive the cards 14 between them. In FIG 3 a duplicate card,there designated 14', is shown as having been just delivered into thestation on the conveyor 17 forwardly of fingers 66 at which theduplicate and master cards are superimposed.

It will be apparent from the above that the card feeders 19 and Zilfaredriven in synchronism with chain 36 of conveyor 17, and that; pinch rollunit 109, and the belts 132 and their associated pressure rollersdeliver cards in such spaced sequence that one such card falls into eachof the pockets on the conveyor. At the same time that a master card isdelivered by feeder 19, the duplicate card which is. to be printed by.such master card is delivered from feeder 20. Because such duplicatecard has a shortor distance to travel from its feeder to the stationwhere the duplicate cards are superimposed upon the master cards thandoes the master card, pinch roll unit 110 and the associated belts 132are driven at a slower speed than .unit 109 and belts 132..

Shortly after such superpositioning of a duplicate card, and as it ispushed forwardly with its associated master card by fingers 66' thesuperimposed master and duplicate cards enter card edge guide 165 (atthe top of FIG. 2a) and 166 (at the bottom of FIG. 2a). Edge guide 166is in effect a prolongation of its associated entering guide 161 exceptfor the fact that the entering end of guide 166 is upwardly open at 173(FIG. 2a) to allow the edges or". cards 10 and 14 at such guide to liein contact with each tion of guides 165 and 165, except for theirlongitudinal configurations, are the same as those of exit edge guideportion 165 shown in FIG. 11.

The edge guide made up of sections 165, 165', and 165", as shown mostclearly in FIGS. 4 and 6, extends forwardly into portions which passpartially around the respective sprocket 40, the drum of the printing orexposure unit 22, and the respective sprocket 41 in that order. Suchguide includes the straight horizontal portion 165" which extends to andbeyond the card separator. The card guide engaging the opposite ends ofthe cards corresponds generally in shape to the guide 165, etc., in thatit extends partially around the respective sprocket 40, the drum of theprinting unit, and the respective sprocket 41. The latter guide,however, has a portion thereof cooperating with the drum. of theprinting unit which is discontinuous, that is, such guide has a first orentering portion 166 thereof which terminates at 167 just short of theactive exposing zone of the printing unit, and a second exit portion 169having a card-entering end at 1.70. During the rotation of the cardswith the drum n of the printing unit. generally from point 167 to beyondother, Forwardly of the upwardly open section 173 of guide 166 thegroove 153 (FIG. 5) in such guide is closed, the rear end of the upperflange of the guide being upwardly curved at 173 (FIG. 2a). It will beapparent that the groove in guide 166' is of such width as to receivethe edges of a set of superimposed duplicate and master cards. As willbe seen hereinafter, the edges of the cards engaged by guide 166 areadjacent the film sections of the cards which are held firmly togetherduring the printing operation. Guides'ldfi, 165, and 165", which engagethe edges of the cards remote from the film sections mounted therein,have two spaced parallel grooves 180, 181 therein which retain suchlatter edges of the cards in spaced relationship. Thus, at the zonewherein the cards are superimposed, shown at the right in FIG. 3, thefar edge of card 14 is shown as being received upon the upper surface ofits guide 161 andabout to enter into an upper guiding groove formed byan overlying flange having an upwardly curved rear end 178 (FIG. 2a).The construcpoint 170 the ends of the cards bearing the film sectionsare firmly gripped by platens on the printing drum, as will appearhereinafter.

The two opposed card guides 165, 166, etc., are fixedly mounted on theframe of the apparatus by brackets of which two are shown at 168 and 171in FIG. 4 connected to the side plates 32 and 34 of the frame. In orderto support the central portions of the cards to prevent their sagging asthey approach and leave the exposure unit, there is provided alongitudinally extending central guide along which the lower surfaces ofmaster cards 10 slide. Guide 172 is, supported on brackets 174 (FIG. 2a)and 175 (FIG. 4) each of which is in the form of a shallow inverted Uextending between plates 32 and 34. Guide 172 has the entering end 176thereof bent downwardly to permit the smooth entry of the cards thereon.Beyond sprocket 40 guide 172 is continued forwardly and upwardly to ashort straight portion at the zone of sprocket 41 and then terminates ina downwardly and forwardly inclined portion 177.

The. printing or exposure unit The printing or exposure unit is shown indetail in FIGS. 2!), 4, 5, 7, and 8. As is apparent in FIGS. 2b, and 5the rotatable drum 39 of unit 22 has a smooth circular cylindrical outersurface 179 of such diameter that cards 10 lie upon it as their faredges travel along inner groove 18;] of guide 165. The correspondingedges of cards 14, as is apparent in FIG. 5, lie spaced from cards 19during the travel of the cards with drum 39, that is, they have the samespacing at the drum as they have throughout their joint travel to thedrum and after leaving the drum. Such spacing of the far edges of thecards, which allows their ready separation by means to be described,does not interfere with the accurate printing of the film sections ofthe duplicate cards since the master and duplicate film sections areheld firmly in contact during their travel through the printing zone byselectively operable platens as will appear hereinafter.

Drum 39 of the printing unit is provided with an end member 182. Asprocket 37 is secured between the end of drum 39 and the radial flangeon end member 182. The above mentioned shaft 62, carrying sprocket 61 bymeans of which drum 3:9 is rotated, is journalled in a bearing which isheld in housing 184 on frame plate member 34 by a retainer 186. Theopposite end of drum 39 is rotatably mounted on means supported by frameside plate 32. Such means includes a circular insert member 189positioned in an opening 187 near the upper edge of plate 32. Member 189has a central opening 190 which receives a sleeve 191 projecting axiallyinwardly of drum 39. A roller bearing 192 is interposed between theinner end of sleeve 191 and flange 194 of end wall 195 of drurn 39.

Radially outwardly of end wall 195 drum 39 is provided with a peripheralflange 196 which extends radially outwardly somewhat past the outersurface 179 of the drum. The inner edge of flange 196 is positioned atsuch distance from the opposed curved guide portion 165' that the edgesof cards and 14 near the film sections thereof are retained againstendwise movement by flange 196 during passage of the cards through theactive printing zone of unit 22. As will be apparent in FIGS. 2b and 7,the portions of guide members 166' and 169 immediately confrontingflange 196 are in the form of spaced strips having their axially outeredges lying close to the inner edge of flange 196. Rearwardly of flange196 and forwardly thereof the guides 166 and 169, respectively, are inthe form of channels.

Drum 39 is provided with a plurality of equally spaced peripherallyaligned openings 197 therethrough at such location longitudinally of thedrum as to underlie the film sections of the cards. The outer portion ofeach opening 197 is provided with a seat 199 which receives atransparent pressure plate or window 200 the outer surface of whichcoincides with the circular cylindrical surface 179. Plates 200 areretained on the drum by screws 201 (FIG. 2b).

As will be apparent in FIG. 4 and 8, drum 39 is provided with a radiallyinwardly projecting ear 202 adjacent the inner leading corner of eachopening 197. Each car 202 journals a longitudinally extending stub shaft204 which is aligned with a second stub shaft 206 rotatably carried inbushing 205 in end wall 195. Shafts 204 and 206 carried bent levers 207and 209, respectively, which are portions of a mounting and operatingmeans for a movable platen made up of pressure plate 210 connected tothe outer ends of the levers and a resilient rubber pressure pad 211secured to the inner face of plate 210. Plate 210 and pad 211 aresuitably curved to hold superimposed cards 10 and 14 uniformly incontact with the associated transparent Window 200 when the platen is inclosed, operative position.

Somewhat in advance of each opening 197 in drum 39 is an opening 212(FIGS. 2b, 4 and 7) through which the radially extending portions oflevers 207 and 209 extend when the platen is closed and into which aportion of the platen is retracted when the platen is open. Each platenis constantly urged toward closed position by a coil tension spring 220which acts between a cross rod 217 connected to levers 297 and 209beyond the axis of stub shafts 204 and 236 and a rod 214 fixedly mountedon drum 39. As shown in FIG. 5, rod 214 extends between end wall 195 ofthe drum and a radially inwardly projecting ear 215 thereon, beingretained by having its enlarged head 216 positioned inwardly of therespective sprocket 37 mounted on the drum. As shown in FIG. 4, rod 217extends between short angularly directed arms 219 on levers 207 and 209.

Mechanism is provided whereby, during rotation of drum 39, the platensare automatically opened before that portion of their travel in whichthey first receive the sets of superimposed master and duplicate cards,and are automatically allowed to close shortly after the cards have beenfully positioned over the respective windows 200. The mechanism for thusopening the platens includes a cam 221 fixedly mounted in place andcooperating with a cam follower roll 224 operatively connected to eachplaten. Roll 224 is journaled at the outer end of an arm 222 which, asshown most clearly in FIG. 8, is pinned to an end of stub shaft 204. Cam221 is of uniform reduced diameter throughout the major portion of itsperiphery, including the active printing zone of the drum. The cam has azone of uniform larger diameter or rise at 232 and ramps 234 and 235,respectively, leading to and from the rise 232 of the cam. As apparentin FIG. 4, the platens are held closed by their respective springs astheir rolls 224 travel around the smaller diametered portion of the cam.As such rolls ride up ramp 234 the platens are progressively opened,being fully opened when rolls 224 overlie rise 232. The platens areprogressively closed as rollers 224 travel down ramp 235.

The above mentioned cam 221, which has a hub 230, is fixedly supportedon a fixed axially extending tube 225 having an end member 226 providedwith a central pilot or stub shaft 227. Pilot 227 is journalled in abushing 229 in a central recess in end member 182 of drum 39. The end oftube 225 remote from pilot 227 has a portion which is received within acounterbore at the outer end of sleeve 191, the tube being secured tomembers 189 and 191 by studs passing through a radially flanged portionof end member 231.

An elogated light bulb 236 is positioned axially within tube 225, thebulb being mounted in a socket 237 the base of which is secured to endmember 226 of tube 225. Bulb 236 is supplied with current by a cable 239which extends through a hole in tube 225, along the interior of a tube,and to the socket as shown in FIG. 5.

It is desirable that means he provided whereby the light rays and atleast a substantial portion of the heat from bulb 236 may be shut offfrom the film sections of those cards which lie in the active printingzone of drum 39, as for example during the halting of the rotation ofthe drum while the bulb remains lighted. For such purpose there isprovided a rotatable shutter in the form of a longitudinally extendingtube 245 which surrounds the lightemitting portion of bulb 236. As shownin FIGS. 4, 4a, 4b, and 5, generally one-half of the active portion oftube 245 is cut away so that light is transmitted from the bulb betweenedges 246, 246' of the shutter to the active printing zone of the drumwhile tube 245 is positioned as in FIGS. 4 and 4a. When, however, tube245 is turned generally through as indicated in FIG. 4b, light from thebulb is shut off from openings 197 in the drum. Tube 245 has the endthereof at the left in FIG. 5 rotatably mounted in rollers 247 each ofwhich is fixedly mounted in a bracket 249 secured to member 231. Tube245 is provided with an end member 250 carrying an axially located stubshaft 251 by means of which tube 245 is selectively operated to lie ineither of the positions of FIGS. 40 and 4b by mechanism to be described.

A pinion 252 is keyed to the outer end of shaft 251 and meshes with arack 254 on a slide 255 mounted for reciprocation in a horizontalguideway 256 secured to the frame of the apparatus. the shutter 245 toclosed position, by a solenoid 257 upon energization of such solenoid,and is thrust forwardly to open the shutter by a coil compression spring267 upon deenergization of the solenoid. The mechanism for thus movingthe shutter will be more readily understood upon consideration of FIGS.4a and 4b.

Solenoid 257 is provided with an outer U-shaped frame member 259 securedto the frame of the apparatus. The solenoid plunger 260 is secured to aslide member 261 which reciprocates in guideways 262 on the confrontingfaces of the horizontal parallel legs 264 of frame 259. A link 265 ispivotally connected between slide member 261 and the rear end of a rod266 connected to rack slide 255. Accordingly, when solenoid 257 isenergized its plunger, acting through members 261, 265, and 266, pullsrack 254 to the left (FIG. 4b) to close shutter 245. A coil compressionspring 267, which surrounds rod 266 and is interposed between rack slide255 and a fixed bracket 269, is of such compressive strength that it isoverpowered by the solenoid when the latter is energized but that whenthe solenoid 257 is deenergized the spring returns the rack 254 to theshutter open position of FIG. 4a. The terminal position of the shuttermay be adjusted within limits by suitably turning an abutment screw 270which is threadedly mounted in a fixed bracket 271 in the path of slidemember 261.

To avoid undue heating of the parts of the printing unit 22, and toprolong the operating life of the light bulb 236, the apparatus ispreferably provided with means Slide 255 is retracted, to turn byfingers 66 of conveyor 17.

13 for forcing cooling air through the interior of drum 39. As shownmost clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2b, a blower 272, which may be of thesquirrel cage rotor type, is mounted on one side of the frame of theapparatus, generally somewhat forwardly of the printing unit 22. Acurved delivery duct. 274 extends from the blower 272 to the left handend (FIG. 5) of sleeve 191 to which it is connected by a joint generallydesignated 277 (FIG. 2b). Air delivered under pressure by the blowerpasses through duct 274 and through suitable openings in the end closuremember 250 of tube 245. Such air is then free to pass generally axiallyof drum 39 both outwardly of tube 225 andinwardly of tube 245 along thelight bulb. The latter air passes along the light socket 237, throughsuitable openings in end member of 226 of tube 225, and then, mergingwith the air passing outside tube 225, passes to the atmosphere throughsuitable openings in end memher 182 of drum'39. The rate of flow ofcooling air through drum 39 may be conveniently regulated by anadjustable damper 276 at the delivery end of the blower.

Card separation During the travel of superimposed sets of duplicate andmaster cards past printing unit 22 the edges of the cards remote fromthe film sections thereof are at all times held separated by. the spacedcard receiving grooves in'guide member 165'. Also, "as above explained,the edges of such'cards adjacent the film sections are held generally incontact with each other by guide 166 as they enter upon drum 39. Intheir travel through the printing zone such latter ends of the cards areheld by platens 210, such edges of the cards being received within edgeguide 169 prior to their release by the platens 210 by the opening ofthe latter. To insure the correct entry of the edges of the cardsadjacent the film sections into guide 169, there is provided a stiff,fixedly mounted peripherally extending wire member 242 which overliesdrum 39, as shown in FIGS. 2b and 4. Member 242 progressively approachesthe outer surface of the drum in a clockwise direction to guide thecards correctly into the mouth 170 of guide 169.

Upon the opening of platens 210, the driving of the card sets 10, 14along the curved edge guides around sprocket 41 and thence into thestraight terminal portions thereof, schematically shown in FIG. 11 iseffected In such portion of their travel the right hand edges (FIG. 11)ofcards and 14 he separated by the central land or rib 278 of guide165", and the left hand edges of the cards lie generally in contact witheach other and within the single longitudinally extending groove inguide 166 A short distance forwardly of sprocket 41 the apparatus isprovided with mechanism for separating the lower, master card 10 fromeach of the sets of superimposed duplicate and master cards. Theseparating mechanism is so located as to direct the master cards intothe above mentioned master card stacker 24. Such separating mechanism isshown most clearly in FIGS. 2b, 6, and 11.

The card separating mechanism takes the form of a plow-like member 279fixedly positioned on the frame of the apparatus so as to enter betweenthe leading edges of cards 10 and 14 and to deflect cards 10 downwardly.Member 279 is in the form of a plate partially folded back on itself ata sharpened laterally offset nose portion 281. From such nose portionthe plate inclines forwardly along an oblique edge 280 until it reachesan open transversely bent portion having a downwardly extending flange284. Member 279 is attached, at 285 to the forwardswall 286 of stacker24. Downwardly inclined flange portion 284 of member 279 underlies therear edge of a forwardly and downwardly inclined card deflecting member291 which is integral with the inner forward wall 291 of stacker 24.

" The manner in which member 279 effects separation of a master card 10from its associated duplicate ca'rd 14 will be apparent uponconsideration of FIGS. 6 and ll. As shown in FIG. 11 the lower flange ofedge guide member is discontinued at a position slightly forward of nose281 of plow-like member 279, such flange being bent somewhat downwardlyand forwardly at its terminus 283. Generally opposite terminus 283, butpreferably somewhat forwardly thereof as shown, the lower flange ofmember 166' is temporarily discontinued, the end of the lower'flange atthe resulting gap being bent downwardly at 288.

The nose 281 of member 279 lies with its upper surface just below theupper surface of the intermediate flange 278 of guide 165", so that,when a set of cards 10, 14 is pushed forwardly by fingers 66 tocooperate with member 279, nose 281 freely enters the space betweencards 10 and '14 at the right in FIG. 11. As the card set continues itsforward travel, the lower card 14 is progressively'bent at its left bandedge by the inclined edge 280 of member 1279, and laterby flange 284 ofmember 279. The'gap in the lower flange of guide 166' is of suchlongitudinal extent as to allow card 10 to be progressively deflecteddownwardly out of further contact with guide 166'. Thus, by the time thetrailing edge of card 10 has passed over portions283 and 288 of therespective edge-guides such card will have been completely stripped fromits associated card 14 and will be in position to bereceived within cardstacker 24. During such travel of the card set past member 279, theupper card 14 continues to travel along the upper groove in guide 165".Card 14 is supported to some extent by nose 281 of member 279 s'othat ittends to remain flat. The gap between the down bent portion 288 of thelower flange of guide 166' and the location where such lower flangeresumes is of less extent than the width of card 14, so that asubstantial portion of the card at its leading edge will have passedbeyond the zone of discontinuity of the lower flange into the locationat which the groove 293 in guide 166 is again closed at its bottom.Consequently, card14 remains stably held at both its side edges as ittravels through the card separating zone.

Upon being deflected downwardly over flange portions 283 and 288 of theedge guides, the card 10 enters a card-receiving slot 289 in the rearwall 287 of stacker 24. When the card has been fully freed from the edgeguides it falls upon a vertically rectractible platform 292 supported onthe top of a vertically reciprocable rod 294. The rod and platform ofthe stacker are supported by a coil compression spring 295 disposedaround the rod and acting between an upper collar 296 secured to the rodand a guide collar 297, secured to platform 30, through which the rodreciprocates. The construction of the stacker is such that as cards 10are progressively deposited on platform 292 the platform sinks, therebymaintaining the upper card of the stack on the platform a substantiallyuniform distance below inclined guide member 291.

The film sections of duplicate cards 14, in the disclosed embodiment ofthe invention, are of the type which are developed by exposure to heat.The apparatus shown includes heater means generally designated 25 whichcooperate with cards 14 in their further travel through the apparatusfollowing the separation of the master cards 10. Means 25 include twoheater units 304, 304' disposed transversely of conveyer 17 and spacedfrom each other longitudinally of the conveyor. The housings are in theform of refractory blocks having downwardly open cavities 395, 305therein, such cavities housing infrared heating elements 306, 306 of thesheathed electrical resistance type.

After treatment by heating means 25, cards 14 are collected in a secondstacker 26 which is generally of the same construction as stacker 24 andhas its parts similarly designated except for an added prime.Immediately rearwardly. of stacker 26 the bottom flanges of edge guides165" and 166' are bent downwardly at termini similar to those shown at283 and 288. The slanting top member 299 of stacker 26 has a rear orentering nose portion which lies slightly above the level of the upperflanges of the edge guides so as progressively to deflect a card 14 asit is pushed forwardly by fingers 66 so that the card enters the stacker26 through slot 289 in the manner shown in FIG. 6.

Control and safety mechanism As above indicated, the disclosedembodiment of the apparatus incorporates safety and control mechanismswhereby the conveyor 17 is stopped in the event of the failure of eitherof the card delivering means 19 and 20 to feed a card forward at theproper time. Each of stackers 24 and 26 is provided with means wherebyconveyor 17 is automatically stopped when the stacker is full. Further,the apparatus includes mechanism whereby when the conveyor is thusstopped the light-controlling shutter at the printing unit isautomatically closed and the heating elements of developing means 25 areautomatically deenergized. Thus, should a misfeeding of the cards occur,the apparatus automatically protects the cards already on the printingunit and also those in the developing zone against damage.

Each of card delivering means 19 and 20 is provided with a detectingmeans at the delivery end thereof which senses the presence or absenceof a card passing from the delivery means. The two such means areidentical and are thus designated by the same characters but for addedprimes in the case of such means associated with card delivery means 20.A Microswitch 309 is supported in a fixed bracket 310 at a positionimmediately forwardly of pinch roll 127. A depending lever 311 ispivoted to the bracket at its upper end by a pivot pin 312 so that thelever may oscillate through a small are forwardly and rearwardly' of theapparatus. The lower end of the lever is provided with a forwardlydirected shoe 314 which is so spaced with respect to the path of cards10 that when a card passes under the shoe it impels lever 311counterclockwise to operate switch 3'09 so as to close the circuittherethrough. When no card is passing beneath shoe 314, lever 311 swingsthrough a short are in a clockwise direction, thereby allowing switch309 to open.

As shown in FIG. 1, stackers 24 and 26 are each provided with a toggleswitch 316, 316', respectively, mounted on the forward wall of thestacker adjacent the bottom end thereof. Such switches, which are springbiased to lie normally in closed position, are provided with inwardlyprojecting arms 317, 317, respectively, whereby the switches are openedwhen the respective platform 292, 292 has descended suificiently underthe weight of a stack of cards to depress the switch lever. As will beapparent upon consideration of the control circuit of FIG. 9,

switches 3G9, 309, 316, 316' are connected in series in a holdingcircuit for a main relay which energizes the motor 51 which drivesconveyor 17. Upon the opening of either of switches 303, 309 at a timewhen it should be closed by the travel of a card therepast, and upon theopening at any time of either of switches 316, 316', the conveyor willstop.

It will be apparent that since the feeding of cards 10 and 14 by theirrespective pinch rolls 109, 110 is intermittent, it is necessary tomaintain the holding circuit closed at those periods in the feedingcycle when cards during normal operation of the apparatus are notdelivered beneath the shoes of the levers operating switches 309, 339.For this purpose there are provided switches 320 and 321 which areconnected in parallel (FIG. 9) with the respective switch 339, 309'.Switch 321 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and switches 320 and 321 are shownin FIG. 7. Both such switches are supported on a bracket 319 afixed toframe plate 34, and are operated by cams 322 and 324 afiixed to shaft86. Shaft 86, as we have seen, carries cams and 88 by means of whichcard delivery means 19 and 20 are operated.

The mechanism for operating each of switches 320 and 321 from itsrespective cam mechanisms are similar, that for switch 321 being shownin FIG. 3. Switch 321, which is normally closed, has a plunger 325 whichis urged outwardly by spring means, not shown. Pivotally mounted by pin327 on a bracket 329 aflixed to the switch is a rocker member. Therocker member has a shorter arm 326 the free end of which cooperateswith the outer end of plunger 325, and a longer arm 330 carrying aroller 331 which rides along the surface of cam 324. Such cam' has afirst, smaller diameter cylindrical surface, 332 which extends over themain extent of the cam, and a relatively short rise or larger diameterportion 334. The configuration and arrangement of the parts are suchthat, when roller 331 overlies cam surface 332 switch 321 is closed, andthat, when such roller lies upon cam surface 334 the switch is open. Therise 334 on cam 324 and the rise on the similar cam 322 for operatingswitch 320 are of such peripheral extent and are so located with respectto the card feeding cams 85 and 88 on driven shaft 86 that switches 320and 321 are opened immediately after the switches 309 and 309' areclosed by the passage of cards 10 and 14, respectively, and thatswitches 320 and 321 are closed at least shortly before switches 309 and309' are again opened. Consequently, that portion of the holding circuit354 shown at the right in FIG. 9 remains closed as long as cards are fedcorrectly by means 109 and 110 during operation of the machine.

The control circuit The control circuit for the apparatus and thevarious parts associated therewith are shown diagrammatically in FIG. 9.Electrical current for driving the conveyor, energizing the light bulband heaters, developing the film sections, etc., is supplied by thecurrent source designated L L In the disclosed embodiment source L Lsupplies alternating current. The control circuit includes a startingcircuit, whereby the first or main relay A is initially placed inclosed, operating position. The starting circuit has a manually operatedswitch 335 connected to lead L a wire 336 leading from the switch 335 toa starting switch 337, a solenoid coil 340 for relay A, and a wire 341connecting the other end of the solenoid coil to lead L Upon the closingof switch 337, solenoid coil 340 is energized, thereby to pull plunger342 of relay A upwardly to close the main circuits through the relay.This also causes contactor 356 to close the circuit between contacts 355in the holding circuit 350 so that, if all other switches in the holdingcircuit are closed, solenoid 340 remains energized upon the release ofstarting switch 337. Holding circuit 350 includes a manually operablestop switch 351, the stacker stop switches 316, 316', and the abovedescribed sets of switches 309, 320 and 309', 321, all connected inseries by the wires 352 and 354, as shown. Ordinarily it is preferred toprovide a wire and a further switch selectively bridging the last namedswitches, whereby the apparatus may be test operated without cards 10and 14. Such wire and further switch are omitted from FIG. 9 for thesake of simplification. A wire 346 connects the holding circuit contactsof relay A with lead L It will be seen that once the holding circuit 350has been energized it continues to hold plunger 342 of relay A upwardlyuntil the holding circuit is opened by any one or more of switches 351,316, 316', and the two sets of card detecting switches. Should theholding circuit be opened by one or more of such switches, solenoid 340will be deenergized and the main circuits through relay A will bedenergized. In such position of relay A, shutter-closing solenoid 257 isenergized through a circuit including wires 346 and 347, contacts 344and contactor 345, and wire 349.

In the upper position of contactor 345, which it occupies when solenoid340 is energized, the contactor comblower motor.

pletes the circuit to the driving motor 51 for conveyor 17 through wires3'46, 347, contacts 357, contactor 345, wire 3'59, heater coil 369 formotor 51, and wire 361. At the same time the heaters 306, 3116 areenergized through manually operated switch 362, assuming the latter isclosed, and an adjustable voltage supply means shown as anautotransformer of Powerstat 364-.

The circuit also 'includes means for selectively energizing "the lightbulb 236 at the printing unit 22 and a motor 377 for the cooling blower272. The circuit for energizing the light bulb includes a wire 365 fromlead L a manually opera-ted switch 366, a transformer 367, and a returnwire 369 to lead L The blower 377 is sup-plied from the same circuitwhich energizes bulb 236, and is initially under the control of theswitch 366 for the latter. A Wire 370 extends from wire 365 through 'amanually operated switch 371 to the solenoid 372 of a relay B. Relay Bis of such construction that its plunger 374 is normally retained in theelevated position shown in FIG. 9 unless solenoid 372 is energized. Uponthe initial energization of solenoid 372 through wires 369, 370, aholding circuit for relay B is established through the closed manuallyoperated switch 380, wire 379, contacts 3 81, contactor 382 and wire384. Consequently, once the blower motor 377 has been started it remainsin operation, regardless of the deenergization of light bulb 236, untilswitch 380 is opened. Blower motor 377 is energized, when plunger 374 ofrelay B is in its lower position, through a circuit including switch380, wire 379, contacts 375, and contactor 376.

The operation of the apparatus will be readily understood from theforegoing description and may be briefly summarized as follows: Assumethat the hopper 71 is provided with a number of master cards to bereproduced,

and that the hopper of card delivery means 20 is supplied with at leastan equal number of unprinted duplicate ca'r'ds. Switches 355, 362, 366,and 371 are now closed, in order to readythe starting circuit, energizethe heaters a't'the developer, light the printing bulb 236, and startthe The contactor of starting switch 337 is now depressed momentarilyuntil the holding circuit 356 takes over the function of energizingsolenoid 340 to hold relay A in closed position. The conveyor motor 51is thus energized and the shutter 245 at the printing unit is opened.

Master cards 10 and duplicate cards 14 are then fed forwardly by means19, 109 and 20, 110, respectively. One card 10 is deposited in eachpocket on conveyor 17 forwardly of each set of fingei s 66 and, whensuch cards have reached the zone at the right in FIG. 3 a card 14 'issuperimposed on its associated card 10 in each pocket. Each such cardset 10, 14, guided with the cards 10 and 14 thereof received within edgeguides 165, 165', and 166,166, respectively, travel up and partiallyaround sprockets 40, being pushed along such path of travel by the setsof fingers 66 on conveyor 17. The drum 39 of printing unit 22 is drivenin timed relationship with respect to conveyor 17 that the sets of cardsenter into cooperation with the drum, in the zone in which platens 210are open, so that the film sections of the cards accurately overlie-thewindows 20% in the drum. During such portion of the travel of the cardsets, as well as the further portion oi such travel up, over, and downaround the "drum, the rear edges of the 'cards'remain engaged by thefingers 66 of the conveyor.

At a zone in the travel of the drum 39 in which the windows 200 have notquite 'i'eached the radial plane of the edge 246 of the shutter the"platens 210' are closed. The printing operation begins when light frombulb 236 passes through windows 200. The film sections remain exposed tolight from bulb 236 until the windows 2116 have travelled beyond theradial plane of edge 246 of shu tter 245. Shortly after the 'drum hastravelled beyond this position, the platens210 are opened so as to clearthe "cards and to allow their removal from drum 39 by 18 the conveyor 17as it passes downwardly from the drum and around the sprockets 41.

The card sets continue to be impelled forwardly by fingers 66 of theconveyor, which then impels them through the card separating zone wherethe master cards are stripped from the duplicate cards and collected instacker 24. Duplicate cards 14 continue their forward travel, beingcarried forwardby conveyor 17 through the developing zone 25 and finallyinto the stacker 26. v

The conveyor motor 51, and the film-developing heaters 306, 306', may bestopped at any time by depressing the stop switch 351. Such elements arealso deenergized whenever either of stackers 24 and 26 becomes full and,as above explained, whenever a card 10 or 14 is not corre'ctly deliveredto the conveyor 17. Upon the stopping of the conveyor throughdeenergization of motor 51, light from bulb 236 is automatically cut offfrom the film sections on drums 39 by the closing of shutter 245.

Although only one embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoingspecification, it is to be understood that said invention is not limitedto said embodiment or to the particular type of insert and carddisclosed. Thus, for example, the film sections of the duplicate cardsmay be of the type which is chemically developed, in which case thedeveloping unit of the apparatus will be changed accordingly. Variousother changes may be made in the apparatus of the invention,particularly in the design and arrangement of the parts illustratedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as will nowbe clear to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

l. A photoprinti-ng machine for printing a set of duplicate card-likemembers having at least one sensitized portion from a set of originalcard-like members having a similarly located original printed portion,comprising a driven conveyor having a series of member-receiving pocketsthereon, means for driving the conveyor, means for depositing a firstmember from one set in each pocket, means for depositing a second memberfrom the other set in each pocket in superimposed relation to the firstmember, means for guiding the edges of said superimposed members as theytravel with the conveyor to retain them generally in the plane of theconveyor and against endwise movement, and a photoprinter having a lightsource and arranged to be traversed by the conveyor so that the membersin the pockets of the conveyor are sequentially exposed to the lightsource to print the duplicate members.

2. A photop'rinting machine for printing a set of duplicate card-likemembers having at least one sensitized portion from a set of originalcard-like members having a similarly located original printed portion,comprising an endless driven conveyor having a series ofmember-receiving pockets thereon, means for driving the conveyor, meansfor depositing a first member from one set in each pocket, means fordepositing a second member from the other set in each pocket insuperimposed relation to the first member, means for guiding the edgesof said superimposed members as they travel with the conveyor to retainthem generally in the plane of the conveyor and against endwisemovement, a photoprinter having a light source and arranged to betraversed by the conveyor so that the members in the pockets of theconveyor are sequentially exposed to the light source to print theduplicate members, and means beyond the photoprin-ter for separating thesuperimposed members and removing the original members from theconveyor.

3. A photoprinting machine for printing a set of duplicate card-likemembers having at least one sensitized portion from a set ofo'riginalcard-like members having a similarly located original printed portion,comprising an endless driven conveyor having a series ofmember-receiving pockets thereon, means for driving the conveyor,

